Yevgeny Prigozhin, the founder of the Wagner private military company, stated his readiness to hand over positions in Bakhmut (Artemovsk) to Akhmat special forces at midnight on May 10. Earlier, Ramzan Kadyrov, the President of Chechnya, had floated the same offer to Prigozhin in a public exchange of messages and statements.
Prigozhin expressed appreciation for the Chechen leader, saying he was grateful to Ramzan Akhmatovich for agreeing to take over the positions in Bakhmut and for ensuring access to the resources and support necessary for ongoing operations there.
According to Prigozhin, he had already reached out to Kadyrov’s representatives to initiate the transition without delay. The press service of Prigozhin elaborated that, based on tactical calculations, once Wagner forces exhaust their combat potential, their counterparts would assume control and continue the attack on the city of Bakhmut.
Prigozhin’s team conveyed confidence that Akhmat forces would eventually secure the city, continuing the offensive in the region.
“If the elder brother Prigozhin goes, the younger brother Kadyrov will come”
In a prior statement, Kadyrov signaled that Akhmat special forces stood ready to replace Wagner fighters should the private military company withdraw from its duties.
He warned that if Prigozhin and Wagner departed, the General Staff might lose an experienced unit, and younger leaders in Chechnya and the Akhmat formations could take their place. In that vein, Kadyrov asserted that his side was prepared to advance and occupy the city if such a scenario unfolded. He indicated that the outcome could unfold within hours.
At the same time, Kadyrov criticized Prigozhin’s remark about withdrawing PMCs from Bakhmut as lacking tact. He added that it was regrettable that the Russian Ministry of Defense had not commented on Wagner’s leadership or engaged with them to resolve the situation.
Kadyrov recalled past instances where Chechen troops faced ammunition shortages and equipment gaps but did not abandon their positions. He also noted that, historically, the Ministry of Defense and the General Staff did not abandon fighters except in rare cases and often turned to them for support when needed.
He urged Sergei Kuzhugetovich to heed the call and instruct the General Staff to act, suggesting that such a course would represent the militarily sound way to address the crisis at hand.
Departure of PMCs from Bakhmut
On May 5, Prigozhin announced that Wagner fighters would leave Bakhmut on May 10 due to a shortage of ammunition and high personnel losses. He noted that the original plan foresaw the city being captured by May 9 and described the distance to be covered in granular terms, highlighting the extensive area of Bakhmut and the significant shortfalls in supply as factors affecting the campaign.
Prigozhin stated that Wagner units would stay in their positions until May 9, after which they would move to rear camps to treat wounds and conserve personnel. He has repeatedly spoken about the problem of shell hunger, recounting how, earlier in the year, contacts could not resolve the issue. In March, he described the ammunition situation as far from ideal, emphasizing that shortages persisted despite some improvements.